Alabama PSC President Won't Seek Re-election

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Public Service Commission President Jim Sullivan announced today he won't seek re-election this year, ending a 25-year career on the state's utility regulatory board.

Sullivan, who is 61, said he still enjoys public service, but there are other things he wants to do while he's still young enough and healthy enough to do them.

The Andalusia native said that will include helping an autism charity in Birmingham and spending more time with his two daughters and three grandchildren. It also may include consulting work in Washington.

Sullivan said another factor is that if he were a state employee, he would have a pension after 25 years of service, but no pension comes with his $96,000-a-year elective office.

Former Democratic Lt. Governor Lucy Baxley has announced she will run for Sullivan's post this year. But Sullivan said Baxley was not a factor in his decision to retire when his term ends in November.

The PSC's other two members, Democrats Jan Cook and Susan Parker, are not up for election this year. Sullivan said both of them would be good at the helm of the PSC.

Under Sullivan's leadership, the PSC enacted a rate stabilization system, which guarantees utility companies a rate of return and adjusts rates by small amounts.

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